Scalabrine Faces His Dream Team

Kansas will start a formidable big man in 7-foot center Eric Chenowith against USC tonight, but Coach Roy Williams doesn’t expect to dominate the Trojans’ frontline of Brian Scalabrine, Jarvis Turner and Jeff Trepagnier.

“Both their big guys, Jarvis and Brian, can run the floor about as good as anyone I have seen around,” Williams said. “Jeff is about as athletic as anyone I have ever had.”

The compliment might be of particular interest to Scalabrine when tipoff comes around.

“My true dream was to play for Kansas,” Scalabrine said.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore had brief contact with the Jayhawks while being recruited at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash.

“They called back as a courtesy call,” he said. “Nothing more than, ‘We found somebody else.’ ”

*

The Jayhawks won’t be getting much of a holiday break after tonight’s game. Unsettled by two recent losses, Williams has told his players to expect long practices.

“I am telling the kids to eat big breakfasts because they are probably not going to eat until I have gotten tired,” Williams said. “I have an amazing endurance when it comes to yelling and blowing a whistle.”

TONIGHT

at Kansas

5 p.m.

Radio--XTRA (690)

Site--Allen Fieldhouse.

Records--Trojans 6-0, Kansas 5-2.

Update--Kansas is expected to play without 6-8 forward Lester Earl, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday.